Wye Valley Brewery hosted its 2025 sportive, with cyclists preparing to set off from its Stoke Lacey base this morning (Sunday, August 31).
The sold-out event saw cyclists gather to complete the ride, with the choice between “half-pint” or “full-pint” routes.
The brewery says that the event’s route is set in an area of the country labelled the “Hop Shires”.
The “stunning” route, which varies between 37 miles and 53 miles, takes participants through the “quiet lanes of Herefordshire”, many of which pass local hop farms which supply Wye Valley Brewery.
After setting off from the Stoke Lacey headquarters, cyclists travel through Bishops Frome and Castle Frome, heading down to Staplow and then to Trumpet near the market town of Ledbury.
After going through the surrounding villages of Pixley, Aylton, Putley, cyclists then head in the direction of Hereford, taking in the villages of Checkley and Priors Frome.
After riding through Bartestree and Whitestone, cyclists were then asked to head slighlty further north to go through Sutton, and head up to Bodenham.
The home stretch saw cyclists travel through Pencombe, before returning to Stoke Lacey, with a BBQ and refreshments on offer.
Some grey clouds forming in the sky above the brewery this morning did not dampen the atmosphere in the slightest, with large crowds of cyclists eagerly waiting by the starting arch to be waved through.
Along with the sensible and useful additions such as full medical support, mechanical support, and a pick-up wagon, cyclists were also offered a bottle of the brewery’s finest beer.
It’s been a busy year for the brewery, which has recently held its 33rd Charity Beer Festival, the first since 2019.
The event doubled as an ‘Independence Day’ for the brewery, which has recently acquired the freehold to its flagship city pub, The Barrels.